Longyearbyen

Elderhostel 80th North Latitude Barentsburg Coal Operations Glaciers Longyearbyen Ny Alesund

Longyearbyen

 

Longyearbyen, town in the Svalbard archipelago of Norway, which is located north of the Arctic Circle. Longyearbyen is situated on the Isfjorden in Spitsbergen, Svalbard's main island. 

 

Founded in 1906 by the American mining entrepreneur John M. Longyear, for whom it is named, the town is a coal-mining hub and the chief port and administrative center for the isolated island group. An airport is nearby. German warships damaged the town in 1943, during World War II.

 

power plant supporting town and coal operations

Photos of the Coal Operations

 

housing

 

summer ski mobile parking

 

dogs also waiting for winter to pull dog sleds

 

art work on a town building

 

museum notes German use of the island 
for weather stations during World War II 
(vital for operations against material shipment to Russia)

 

stuffed Puffin in the Museum

 

stuffed Walrus

 

reindeer grazing near town

 

Polar Bear alert for the whole island

 

the only ones I saw were in the museum

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Elderhostel 80th North Latitude Barentsburg Coal Operations Glaciers Longyearbyen Ny Alesund

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